According to Daily Star(via Manchester Evening News), Manchester City are plotting a club record bid of £71m for the services of Ajax wunderkind Frenkie de Jong. The 21-year-old has impressed the onlookers of the Dutch Eredivisie with a series of excellent performances and has been identified as a top target for the Sky Blues.
However, the defending champions will be facing stiff competition from rivals Tottenham Hotspur and thus, eclipsing their club record fee of £60 million spent on Riyad Mahrez in the summer could be imperative if they are to secure his services in the coming months. But, is he really worth all the fuss?
Frenkie de Jong: Player attributes and stats
The 21-year-old is advertised as a central midfielder, who normally operates as a deep-lying playmaker. As you would expect from any Ajax midfielder, he is excellent on the ball while his positional awareness enables him to stay one step ahead of the opposition.
What he lacks in physicality, he more than makes up for it with his sublime technical qualities. His proficiency in playing short passes and circulating the possession is his strongest asset as he averages 75 passes per game with a remarkable accuracy of 92% – which is highest in the team.
Furthermore, de Jong is also a confident midfielder, who isn’t afraid to take on opposing defenders while his excellent vision allows him to create chances in the final third, making him one of the most unique defensive playmakers in Europe.
Indeed, the 21-year-old has averaged 1 key pass per game this season along with 1.4 dribbles, which are truly fascinating statistics for a defensive-minded playmaker.
Why do Manchester City require Frenkie de Jong?
Manchester City should definitely acquire the services of Frenkie de Jong as soon as possible given his all-round qualities in the centre of the pitch. While he may not be an immediate replacement for the ageing Fernandinho due to his lack of physical prowess, de Jong is certainly an upgrade over another Manchester City target Julian Weigl, who lacks the offensive traits.
In addition, de Jong’s skillset also enables him to play anywhere across the midfield, meaning he can be deployed in a more attacking role if and when the situation demands.
Although he might not be as effective as Kevin de Bruyne or David Silva in the final third, his exceptional ball carrying qualities coupled with his mesmerizing passes could help him become a key part of Pep Guardiola’s Juego de posicion style of play. Thus, he could definitely stamp his authority in the Premier League, making him a viable transfer target for the Citizens in the near future.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
